baking dreams

For the past days I find myself crazy over a childhood dream.  i couldn't recall when exactly i first dreamt about pandesal, spanish bread and pan de coco (PSP).  I remember afternoons in Sta. Ana meant having any of these three bread variety, along with Coke litro in a glass bottle.

But of course I wanted more.

I've caught several episodes of Ace of Cakes in Lifestyle Channel.  This program showcases Duff Goldman and his team's passion for cake baking.  Their cakes aren't simply cakes, they make delicious artwork.  I watched one episode where they made a humongous Hershey's Bar to celebrate the Hershey School's anniversary.  Their cakes are so specific down to the last detail you'd think it ran through a giant copying machine.

Anyways, the whole fondant thing is so enticing I wanted to try it on my own.  I've been scouting for baking school/classes online that I might join to give me a good head start with the craft.  Sofi's clay is going through a lot of kneading and rolling lately.  I wish fondant is somehow the same as clay.

When I learn the stuff, i'll put up a bakeshop.  The cake thing is just on the side, i'll still have the usual PSP to keep the business running.

Business partner anyone?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I was invited in Sofi's school to tell a story.  No certain theme to follow, just come to school with two stories.  Apparently the activity was something to introduce them to community helppers.  Of course I didn't want to use Alamat ng Pating again.  I feel I won't learn anything if I use the same material.

The thought bubble that popped out of my head is that it has to be in English.  Alamat ng Pating is best told in the vernacular, so hands down, it's not to be used.  Besides it might scare them away.  Brought home a few books to study: The Chocolate Covered Cookie Tantrum by Deborah Blumenthal, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  It's funny because the tantrum book has a main character named Sofia who would not stop cry and screaming unless she gets her cookie.  It felt close to home, it was as if I made the story.  I just didn't like the ending as her mom gave her a cookie at the end of the story.  The True Story is funny but I'm not sure if kids Sofi's age will find it funny.  Imagine the wolf explaining his side, isn't that hilarious?

So I chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  It's basic but I figured if I use a caterpillar balloon then it would be something else.  I was ecstatic with the idea.  When it's time to make the caterpillar big, we'll just have to put some air to make it appear getting fatter.  I remember buying a few caterpillar balloons last July in National Bookstore.  I felt devastated though when a few days before the stint, I couldn't find the same balloon.  I settled for wiggly balloons.  The night before the activity, Jaims was able to find a similar balloon.  I was saved.

We made a slideshow of pictures but we were not able to use all.  But the story was such a blast, with or without the presentation.

caterpillar

IMAGE RETRIEVED FROM:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/h0/h2340.jpg

doodle 101

yesterday was first day of MA class for the sem. it's supposed to end at 8, but i was thinking she'll send us home early because it's first day. i asked jaims to fetch me at 7, but she sent us home even earlier. I got to my usual tambayan at 6.30PM, but they're just about to leave home. with a lot of time to spare and missy's not with me, i started a new entry for my WP.  Doodle 101.

 

 

And I'm going to do this when i feel like blogging, and there are no words coming out of me.

Moving Out Sale! (via The Adarna House Blog)

Check out Adarna House's book sale which runs from November 8 to 25, 2010. Visit them now at their office/warehouse.

After 30 years, we finally have a building of our own. We'll be moving out of our current office by the end of the month. But before we do that, we're inviting you to help us clear up though our moving out sale! Start your Christmas shopping early and come by our current address: 2/F FSS Building, 20 Scout Tuason corner Scout Castor Streets, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City. (If you know the original Max's Restaurant along Scout Tuason Street, … Read More

via The Adarna House Blog

gickr.com animation

back in college, Paint Shop Pro allowed me to create animated gifs. though Photoshop existed before, it was through PSP that i learned the basics of layering and image manipulation. i know Photoshop can animate gifs also but i haven't had the time to explore. a few weeks back i had a professional conversation with a friend, and the idea of online gif animator came about. we knew it existed as photo editors are already accessible everywhere. it's only now that i had the time to look for one.

Gickr.Com sews images in one file to make it appear as moving.

Gickr.Com allows users to upload as much as 10 images to make the movement more accurate. The only downside about it is the watermark at the lower right side of the image.
Make your own animation

sembreak

can't wipe the smile off my face when i heard that sembreak this school year will be as long as a week. in the past two years xs has been observing a long weekend. a week, i told myself, will give me enough time to rest. ...but it's thursday already, and i'm feeling that sembreak is slipping off my fingers like sand.

sembreak, please don't leave me.  i'm going to miss you.

halloween

i don't know when filipinos started adopting the western practice of trick or treat.  Is it just now or have we always been fascinated with horror stuff, and with Magandang Gabi Bayan missing nowadays, halloween seemed empty?  It has always been a practice when we were young to watch MGB during the last Saturday of October.  i couldn't remember the last time I watched it.  Was it before Noli de Castro's vice-presidency days?

I mentioned in my last entry that Sofi had another "major, major" October activity.  The most recent of which is the costume party they had during their last day.  She wanted to come as a princess but Jaims and I said, one can never win if they come as princess or a fairy.  Teacher said they'll be awarding the most creative costume to those who'll come in their most creative get-up. When Jaims saw the laundry basket sold in the departments store, he insisted that Sofi comes in a Frog costume.  it's somewhere P150-P220.  I couldn't remember the exact amount.  But anything more than 250 is way out of the budget.  We made two paper mache webbed feet to match the outfit.  On one of our grocery trips, Jaims found a polka-dotted jogging pants to complete her look.

and to add to my happiness, Sofi went home with the "most creative costume" award. :)

joys of motherhood

lately, i find happiness in being Sofi's mom in so many ways.  i could have blogged about this a few weeks back but my laziness to blog got the better of me.

She had to two major activities last October but i was only able to attend one.  The United Nations celebration (which is part of every preschool BTW) was the first one.  Daddy came home sometime September excited to tell me that Sofia is going be Little Miss Vietnam.  When I asked him why Vietnam, he said he thought we're just going to make a flag.  He figured Vietnam is easier to make (nothing beats Japan) thus he chose it, alongside the fact that the toddlers were assigned Asian countries.  It was only after he chose that he realized he needs to dress up his little girl in Vietnam costume.  We trooped to Quiapo a few weeks after to find her a costume.  I first went to SM Carriedo but we couldn't find a Vietnamese costume.  i thought to myself this was going to be long and hard.  We entered the inside pasilios of the market but it was hard to find one.  When we were able to find one, the vendor was selling it for P400.00.  The only tawad we can haggle was less 50 bucks.  And she's selling the salakot for another P250.  We decided it's too much for a costume. We're going to make one instead.

When she had her Buwan ng Wika last August, Sofi didn't dance at all.  In fact she stood up in line with the other kids and gave me the see-i'm-standing-here-already-don't-make-me-dance-anymore face.  I was dead worried she might act the same way again.  I kept on asking her a few days before if she will dance because I don't have leave credits.  she keeps on saying she won't but of course, a mother will always be a mother.  No amount of NO can ever stop her from attending her daughter's activities...or maybe it's just me.  Anyways, i attended the event and i felt so happy seeing her join the group to dance.

 

What makes me even proud of her was that she walked on her own when it was their time to parade.  She was doing the funny poses she was practicing at home.  I thought she got it from the TV while watching America's Next Top Model.  We didn't know it was for their parade.   Teacher was still there guiding her but she still posed on her own.  It was funny to see her that way but i couldn't be happier.  In fact she was looking at my camera the whole time and not her daddy's (whose in front by the way).

today i pray

inspired by fr. jgsj, today i pray for those who went ahead of us.

papa jaime.
mama julieta.
nanay.
ante loring.
madel's dad.
auntie ana.
tita luisa.
tita minnie.
thons.

may you find happiness in His loving arms.